Freedom climb highlights Mt. Malindang Week celebration in Mis. Occ.

By Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Thursday 26th of July 2012

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental, July 26 (PIA) -- The Mt. Malindang Freedom Climb on July 28 and 29 will be among the highlights of this year’s Mt. Malindang Week, to be observed on July 23 to 30, in Misamis Occidental.

The First Mt. Malindang Adventure Challenge Days have been scheduled on July 27 to 29, from Barangay Mansawan, Don Victoriano town to Barangay Buntawan in Oroquieta City, with the establishment of the Mt. Malindang route and trail markers last July 14 to 16.

These activities are apart of the intensified information, education and communication campaign conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Misamis Occidental (DENR-Mis. Occ.) and other stakeholders, to raise the people’s level of awareness on the significance of Mt. Malindang.

“We would like the people to know the richness of the biodiversity of Mt. Malindang for them to understand how they can help take care and preserve its resources and protect the environment in the process,” Eden C. Pito, protected area superintendent of DENR-Mis. Occ., said.

Pito said the activities for the week are anchored on the theme “Mt. Malindang: Bililhong kabilin atong ampingan alang kanato ug sa umaabot nga kaliwatan (Mt. Malindang: A Cultural Heritage We Should Protect for Us and the Future Generations).”

He said that a week before the celebration, hanging of the Mt. Malindang Week Streamers at the municipal hall and other strategic places was done by the members of the protected area management board and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices.

Likewise, plugging of the week-long activities was done on TV and some radio stations in the province, while the Environmental Fair was conducted at Misamis University in Ozamiz City from July 23 to 30, and sports competition in volleyball/basketball, at the rainforestation nursery in Don Victoriano from July 24 to 29.

Pito said that to spice up the occasion, winners in the Mt. Malindang Adventure Challenge will receive P8,000, P6,000 and P4,000, for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively.

In the same manner, winners in volleyball/basketball will receive cash of P5,000, P3,000 and P2,000, for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively, Pito said. (PIA10-Mis. Occ.)